Seawolfe, be sure to let us know if you find a good viewing site. Mt. St. Helens is our middle name.

I'm probably pointing out the obvious, flogging Kerry's dead horse, but if you haven't checked out the Pixieland S.P. Thread you might consider wandering over there the following weekend. You can find directions to the place here. Some guys will also be there this weekend and you'd be welcome.

I wandered up to Hurricane Ridge Saturday and enjoyed a spectacular night. About six members of the Olympic Astro. Soc. were setting up as I arrived. They're a most welcoming bunch of people. Thanks for the invitation, Cliff!

I didn't bring Sugaree with me, and I planned on a night of binoc. viewing. However, my friend John G. was doing an outreach presentation and had two scopes set up, so what's a guy to do? He entertained a crowd around his 12.5" and I worked a (generally smaller) crowd with his 20". What a kick! So binoc viewing started much later than expected but was very enjoyable.

One notable sight from Saturday night: After the crescent moon rose above the trees (actually it was a ghostly presence *behind* a big evergreen as it first rose) I looked at it with the binocs. The shadowed side, bathed in earthglow and sporting ghostly mares, was a beautiful sight.

Seawolfe says:

A little girl once asked as I showed her the Moon with my telescope, "Are you a scientist?" No, it's just a hobby....

Yup, I was asked the same question Sat. night.

One off-key note: A week previously I had knocked over Punk, my trusty 80 mm. refractor, while pulling a recliner out from behind it. It & its tripod toppled and hit the concrete garage floor, landing on its side. I had been planning to take it with me to Hurricane, but it turned out that I broke something in the focuser, and the drawtube within it is unattached. I've been yearning for some time for a 102 mm. scope and I may take this incident as a message from the gods.

I'm thinking that a 80 mm. Megrez with a good objective lens but no focuser (and also with some cosmetic issues) might go for about $100. I'd appreciate your opinions on that before I try to sell it.

I think it would be snatched at $100. Have you taken it apart to see if it just needs to be put back into place or is something really broken? If I did not already have an 80mm I'd snatch it at $100. So I think I'd start at $200 at least.

Well Mike..is the extent of the damage known...apart from the broken focuser? Is there any element damage...are the secondary elements misaligned? Knowing this can impact the price you are attempting to gain.

I'm not sure of the price of such a scope in good condition on the resale market...let alone a broken one with unknown damage. Cement is brutal and a further investigation to assess said damage might be in your interest.

Hey everyone. I just found out we are in part 7. I haven't been on in a while since life keeps getting in the way. I got my car running but, my truck needs a fuel pump before I can go on any long trips. It overheats (the fuel pump) if I get below 3/8 full in my gas tank. I would have tried to sneak out after work Saturday but, I don't want to risk it going completely out in the middle of eastern Washington. Maybe we'll be able to get lucky and have an October meet somewhere... Have fun everyone.